Commission takes Brady to court

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

The Emil George-led Manatt- Dudus commission of enquiry has carried out its threat to drag attorney Harold Brady before the local courts for his refusal to give testimony at the enquiry.

Brady is the attorney who was instrumental in engaging United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in late 2009.

The attorney, who has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Bruce Golding for libel and defamation, was yesterday served a summons to appear before the Half-Way Tree Resident Magistrate's Court on February 17. He declined to comment on the summons.

Public row with Vaz

Brady has been ushered into the public glare since engaging in a public row with the information minister and then deputy treasurer of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Daryl Vaz, last year.

On January 24, Brady carried out a promise he had made in affidavits to the commission that he would not give testimony.

He refused to be sworn in, giving George no choice but to release him.

The commission was told by the marshal of the enquiry, Garth McBean, that sentencing would be placed in the hands of a resident magistrate, rather than the commissioners, and that the fine would not exceed $500.

Brady had earlier served two affidavits on the commission, presenting reasons for his decision not to testify at the trial.

But even after George ruled that he should testify, he flatly refused.

During Brady's stony silence, the attorney for Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Hugh Small, had served notice that his client had countered with two affidavits challenging Brady's arguments that evidence at the commission of enquiry could prejudice the lawsuit he brought against the prime minister late last year.

The second affidavit from the prime minister brings into evidence the transcript from a radio programme in which Brady was the guest and journalists Emily Crooks and Naomi Francis were hosts.

Small contended the suit that had been brought against Golding could not be undermined as the work of the commission would not trespass on the court action.

However, Brady's attorney, Georgia Gibson Henlin, reiterated her client's intention not to give testimony and charged that the intervention of the prime minister's lawyer was highly irregular.